Color and symbol coded visual cues for relating screen items to each other

ABSTRACT

Described is a method for visually delineating a relationship between diverse, but related graphical objects in a graphical user interface. An icon that has specified color scheme is associated with the diverse, but related but graphical objects. When one of the related graphical objects is displayed, the icon is displayed within the displayed graphical object. The persistence of the icon with the specified color scheme in the displayed graphical objects allows them to be recognized as related.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of graphical user interfaces. More specifically, the present invention relates to using persistent visual cues to the user throughout related graphical user interfaces.

2. Related Materials

This application is related to the following commonly owned co-pending application which is hereby incorporated by reference:

Color & Symbol Coded Visual Cue for Relating Screen Menu to Executed Process, U.S. application Ser. No. 08/954,852, filed Oct. 21, 1997.

3. Discussion of Prior Art

The prior art is replete with examples of using icons in various schemes to present visual information related to a particular object. Many applications contain visual indicators that relate icons for existing objects of a particular type to an icon for creating new objects of that type. One known method is to superimpose the image of a star on the upper left-hand corner of an “existing” icon. For example, the icon for a document in Lotus WordPro® 96 is a blank page with the upper right-hand corner turned down, while the icon for a new document is the same but with a star in the upper left-hand corner. This metaphor is not carried any further than this, however; specifically, it is not carried into related graphical user interfaces or user assistance programs, e.g. wizards. What the prior art has failed to teach is a method of using persistent objects and color throughout interfaces belonging to a single family or related family.

Modern object-oriented graphical user interfaces display a large number of objects, toolbars, properties sheets, and wizards. Often times users; have trouble determining what buttons will do before they use them. Interfaces do not provide consistent and redundant visual cues (i.e., graphics/spatial and color/hue) that allow users the ability to relate objects on their desktops to the controls and displays that affect them.

The present invention makes it easier to relate an object represented on the user interface with its associated controls and displays based on basic human pattern matching abilities. The Windows®95 Explorer toolbar has an icon for the “map network drive” function. However, the tool bar icon fails to share the color or the graphic of the object that will show up on your desktop after you map a network drive. Additionally, the windows that are displayed to gather user input for setting the parameters for mapping a drive do not have a matching graphic or color cues. Matching the color and graphic would help users: 1) find the toolbar button to start the interaction, 2) track the interaction during the sequence of windows that gather the parameters, and 3) recognize the resulting mapped drive when it appeared on their desktop at the completion of the interaction.

The patent to Hoppe et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,488), assigned to Xerox Corporation, provides for a Method and Apparatus for Concurrent Graphical Visualization of a Database Search and its Search History. A graphical representation of a query to a database enables creation and traversal of the search history. Relationships between objects are noted graphically. The reference, however, appears to be focused on nesting techniques.

The patent to West (U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,440), assigned to Objective Software Technology, provides for a Dynamic Object Visualization and Browsing System. An animated graphical display reflects the status of selected objects and their interrelationships.

The patent to Hahn et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,751,287), assigned to Documagix, Inc., provides for a System for Organizing Document Icons with Suggestions, Folders, Drawers, and Cabinets. Each drawer can be marked with a graphic icon for easier visual identification. The drawer, and associated text can also be colored. Folders can similarly be named, described and keyed with a color.

The patent to Corda et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,122), assigned to The United State of America, provides for an Immersive Visual Programming System. During execution of a compiler, the flow of data objects and the interaction among the data objects is visually displayed to the user. Objects may retain some color aspects.

The patent to Bloomberg (U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,176), assigned to Xerox Corporation, provides for Performing Document Image Management Tasks Using an Iconic Image having Embedded Encoded Information. Iconic versions of pages or sections of text are used to organize, in reduced size, a plurality of embedded text objects. Bloomberg further describe general methods of using color. Bloomberg, however, discusses watermarking as a way to ensure data integrity, not to provide visual cues as to related family or interface objects.

The patent to Caid et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,178), assigned to HNC Software, Inc., provides for a Visualization of Information Using Graphical Representations of Context Vector Based Relationships and Attributes. Caid discloses visualization of textual information by translating context vectors into visual and graphical representations. General teachings are provided to 3D icons with a specific shape, size, color, texture and movement.

Whatever the precise merits, features ad advantages of the above cited references, none of them achieves or fulfills the purposes of the present invention as described in the detailed description that follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an initial icon and color scheme to represent a particular application. As a user traverses related objects belonging to the same family, the initial icon and color scheme is persistent throughout each of the related objects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a display screen capture illustrating multiple placement of designated icon with persistent color scheme.

FIG. 2 illustrates an item set graph wizard with the designated icon with persistent color scheme of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a wizard summary page with graphics incorporating the designated icon and persistent color scheme of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a notebook graphical user interface with the designated icon with persistent color scheme of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates an item set graph with the designated icon with persistent color scheme of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is illustrated and described in a preferred embodiment, the device may be produced in many different configurations, forms and materials. There is depicted in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and the associated functional specifications of the materials for its construction and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations within the scope of the present invention.

Object-oriented graphical user interfaces (GUIs) represent objects in the interface that are of interest to users. Users complete various tasks on these objects such as creating new objects, organizing objects, and editing existing objects. This invention uses a specific color and graphical symbol scheme to tie together the interface controls and displays (windows, dialogs, buttons) that allow the user to control, organize, create, and display these objects.

In various applications, it may be necessary to develop many instances of an object. For example, in the visualization of data mining results, the objects represent types of displays (e.g., a Item Set graph, a Rules graph, a Distribution graph, etc.), and each instance represents a different version of that display depending on parameters set by the user.

FIGS. 1-5 collectively illustrate, in the preferred embodiment of a graphical user interface, the persistence of a designated graphical symbol and associated color scheme is used in the representation of the family of displays and controls for an Item Set graph on the desktop, its containers, properties notebooks, wizards, and the application tool bar. The use of persistent symbols and colors schemes enables the user to quickly determine the particular family or families of graphical user interfaces being used at any one moment.

FIG. 1 illustrates a GUI 100 including: Toolbar 104, Projects container 101, Contents of folder container 102, and Work Area container 103.

In the present invention, a static icon and color scheme is generated by a visual designer for each graph type. The icons and color schemes are placed on the objects and their folders to assist the user in making a visual relationship with the particular family. One instantiation of one of those types, a Item Set graph 112 named “dpw”, is displayed in the Workarea container 103. This instantiation has a specific icon and color scheme. The icon and color scheme are displayed on its large folder icon 111 in the Contents of Folder container 102 and on its small folder icon 110 displayed in the Projects container 101. It is this retention of persistent icon characteristics and coloring scheme that provides a user immediate recognition of related files of similar type. The color tracking function enables low level following of related objects without an understanding of the exact underlying connections and hierarchy. The toolbar 104 contains a button that also retains a facsimile of the icon and color scheme 113 that the user can use to create a new instance of an item set graph.

FIG. 2 illustrates GUI screen capture 200 of an item set wizard used to create an item set graph 112 which is placed within the item set parent folder 110/111. As with each object/sub-object created within this family, the titlebar includes the preselected icon and color scheme 210 as a visual aid to the user for an immediate recognition of the family presently being used.

FIG. 3 illustrates an GUI screen capture 300 of an item set graph wizard summary page which displays the parameters chosen during the implementation of the wizard and to be ultimately used to display data within the item set graph 112. As with each object/sub-objects created within this family, the title bar includes the preselected icon and color scheme 310 as a visual aid to the user for an immediate recognition of the family presently being used. In addition, the preselected icon and color scheme 320 is shown to be incorporated with a graphics section 330 of the screen capture.

FIG. 4 illustrates an GUI screen capture 400 of a properties notebook for the item set graph wizard shown in FIG. 2. As with each object/sub-objects created within this family, the title bar includes the preselected icon and color scheme 510 as a visual aid to the user for an immediate recognition of the family presently being used.

FIG. 5 illustrates an GUI screen capture 500 of an item set graph used to display data within the item set graph 112 created using the item set graph wizard shown in FIG. 2. As with each object/sub-objects created within this family, the title bar includes the preselected icon and color scheme 510 as a visual aid to the user for an immediate recognition of the family presently being used.

The above icons and color schemes and the described functional elements are implemented in various computing environments. For example, the present invention may be implemented on a conventional IBM PC or equivalent, multi-nodal system (e.g. LAN) or networking system (e.g. Internet, WWW). All programming, mining algorithms, GUIs, display panels and dialog box templates, metadata and data related thereto are stored in computer memory, static or dynamic, and may be retrieved by the user of the Intelligent Mining system in any of: conventional computer storage, display (i.e. CRT) and/or hardcopy (i.e. printed) formats. The programming of the present invention may be implemented by one of skill in the art of object-oriented programming.

CONCLUSION

A system and method has been shown in the above embodiments for the effective implementation of a persistent iconic and color scheme visual cue for relating various objects within the same application. While various preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. For example, the present invention should not be limited by software/program, computing environment, specific computing hardware and specific iconic color or symbol schemes. In addition, the specific chosen icons are representative of the preferred embodiment and should not limit the scope of the invention. Various icons and color schemes can be selected to be persistent throughout any related GUIs. 

1. A computer-based method of visually delineating a relationship between related graphical objects in a graphical user interface, the method comprising: associating an icon with each of at least two diverse, but related graphical objects/sub-objects, said icon having an associated color scheme, said icon and said color scheme unique to said related graphical objects/sub-objects; displaying said related graphical objects/sub-objects, wherein said related objects/sub-objects are displayed with said associated icon with associated color scheme, said icon with associated color scheme being displayed within each of said related graphical objects/sub-objects; wherein said displayed related graphical objects/sub-objects are recognizable as related by the persistence of said associated icon with said associated color scheme across each of said graphical objects/sub-objects.
 2. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein said icon is displayed within a visible portion of said displayed graphical objects/sub-objects.
 3. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein said objects/sub-objects are a series of graphical templates, and said persistence of said associated icon with said associated color scheme provides user assistance when traversing through said series of graphical templates.
 4. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein said related graphical objects comprise any of: graphical windows, toolbars, rulers, wizards, titlebars, tables and icons.
 5. A computer-based method of delineating a relationship between related graphical objects, said method comprising: associating an icon with at a first graphical object, said icon having an associated color scheme; displaying said first graphical object with said icon having said associated color scheme, said icon being displayed within said first graphical object; associating said icon having said color scheme with at a second graphical object that is diverse from, but related to, said first graphical object; displaying said second related graphical object with said icon having said associated color scheme, said icon being displayed within said second related graphical object; said second object being recognizable as related to said first object by persistence of said icon having said associated color scheme across said first graphical object and said related second graphical object.
 6. The computer-based method of claim 5, wherein said first and second objects are located within a single graphical user interface.
 7. The computer-based method of claim 5, wherein said first and second objects are associated with a series of graphical templates, and said persistence of said icon having said associated color scheme provides user assistance when traversing through said series of graphical templates.
 8. The computer-based method of claim 5, wherein said first and second objects comprise any of: graphical windows, toolbars, rulers, wizards, title bars, tables and icons.
 9. A computer-based method of visually delineating lineage between related graphical objects comprising: creating a graphical symbol, said graphic symbol having a specified pattern, and associating it with at least a first graphical object; designating one or more color attributes for said graphic symbol; displaying one or more related graphical objects; retaining said created graphic symbol, its specified pattern and color attributes within said one or more displayed related graphical objects, and wherein said one or more objects are recognizable as related to said first objects by the persistence of said specified graphic symbol pattern and designated colors.
 10. The computer-based method of claim 9, wherein said created graphic symbol, its specified pattern and color attributes is retained within a visible portion of one or more related objects.
 11. The computer-based method of claim 9, wherein said graphic symbol and persistence of color between said first and second objects provides user assistance when traversing a series of graphical templates.
 12. The computer-based method of claim 9, wherein said group of related objects comprise any of: graphical windows, toolbars, rulers, wizards, title bars, tables and icons.
 13. A computer-based method of delineating lineage between a first object and a related object comprising: creating an icon representing a first object; designating at least a color scheme for said icon; creating a second object related to said first object; retaining said icon and color scheme of said first object within a visible area of said second related object, and wherein said second object is recognizable as related to said first object by the persistence of said icon and color scheme.
 14. The computer-based method of delineating lineage between a first object and a related object as per claim 13, wherein said first and second objects are located within a graphical user interface.
 15. The computer-based method of delineating lineage between a first object and a related object as per claim 13, wherein the persistence of said icon and color scheme between said first and second objects provides user assistance when traversing a series of graphical templates.
 16. The computer-based method of delineating lineage between a first object and a related object as per claim 13, wherein said related objects comprise any of: graphical windows, toolbars, rulers, wizards, title bars, tables and icons. 